The Jakarta Globe, September 20, 2013.
East Java Police are searching for a producer of home-brewed alcohol after 12 people died of methanol poisoning in East Java.
“We are focusing our efforts to search for Budi,” Sawahan Police Chief Comr. Manang Sawahan told the Jakarta Globe on Friday. “He is the supplier of the deadly alcohol.”
Manang said his office had received a report that 12 people in Surabaya and Gresik had bought the bootleg alcohol. Police then raided Budi’s house on Jalan Kutai, Surabaya, and confiscated four boxes as well as one jerry can of alcohol.
Budi had, however, gone on the run, and his family refused to talk to the authorities, police said.
Previously, the local police arrested several people selling illicit alcohol supplied by Budi. Manang said Budi could face 10 years in prison under Article 12 of the 2012 Law on Food Safety.
The incident started when Ismail, who had been selling the product for a year, received 10 boxes of homemade alcohol, known as cukrik, from Budi, his regular supplier. Ismail sold one bottle for Rp 30,000 ($2.64).
Since Sept. 13., 12 people who drank the alcohol were found dead at different locations in Surabaya and Gresik.
Manang said the victims died on different days. Some died two days after drinking.
“From the investigation, we found out they all bought homemade alcohol from Ismail,” Manang said. “We hope by arresting Budi we can track down where the dangerous alcohol has been distributed.”
Previously on August 13 people died from drinking bootleg alcohol in Cempaka Putih, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
Jakarta Police arrested the owner of the alcohol vendor, Rendy, who claimed he had been selling homemade alcohol for eight years and began selling a tainted mixture since July for Rp 10,000 per package because business had been patchy.
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vr 20 sep 2013 - 22:24
